And one of the best ways to stop breast cancer in its tracks? Early detection (it works).

Though every woman should do breast self-exams each month, women over 40 should also consider getting a mammogram — an x-ray that examines breast tissue — every one to two years. (Here are specific guidelines.)

If you’re younger than 40, but have risk factors for breast cancer, you might need mammograms, too; ask your doctor for their recommendation.

Whatever your age, don’t avoid mammograms because of their cost.

Women today have a bounty of ways to get free and low-cost mammograms. Here are six excellent options.

1. Your Doctor

If you’re 40 or older and have a health insurance plan issued in the past four years, the Affordable Care Act requires your insurer to cover yearly mammograms with no co-payment.

To qualify for this screening, you should be between the ages of 40 and 64, have no insurance or an insurance that fails to cover screening exams, and also live at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

6. Your Local Imaging Center

You might be wondering why Planned Parenthood isn’t on the list. These popular clinics provide clinical breast exams, but not mammograms; if an abnormality is detected during your exam, the doctor will refer you to a provider of low- or no-cost mammograms like the ones above.

To learn more about mammograms — including how they work and how to prepare — check out this easy-to-read PDF from the Komen Foundation.

Whatever you do, don’t wait!

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post reported that Planned Parenthood offers mammograms. We apologize for the error and have updated the post with the correct information.

Susan Shain is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain. Web Producer Jacquelyn Pica did the research.

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